Thailand Live Tuesday 4 Jan 2011

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Thailand Plans to Attract Foreign Filmmakers

The Thailand Film Office is planning to promote Thailand as an ideal filming location by organizing a trip for foreign filmmakers.

Director of the Thailand Film Office Wannasiri Morakul reported that the government is planning to promote Thailand as an ideal place for film production by organizing a trip for foreign film studio representatives. The trip is expected to take place sometime this month or in February.

The filmmakers will be invited to Thailand to tour potential filming locations as well as post and pre-production facilities in the country. If it is well received, a similar trip might be organized again next year.

The office has been allocated a budget of approximately one million baht to organize the trip. Wannasiri hopes that they will attract foreign filmmakers to Thailand.

The director added that in 2011, the office is looking to attract foreign filmmakers by promoting the country's good value for money. Despite not having incentives such as tax breaks, it is still cheaper to produce films in Thailand compared with other countries in the region in terms of accommodations, labor and food costs. Also, there is a one-year filming fee exemption at the country's national parks, which would greatly reduce production costs for projects shooting there.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-04

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Cabinet passes media protection bill; PM meets with foreign and defense ministers to discuss ways to help Panich /TAN_Network

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Automotive Institute: Car Production Capacity at 2.6 Mln Units in 2011

The Thailand Automotive Institute projects Thailand's car production capacity to rise to 2.6 million units this year, in line with expanding markets, which could propel Thailand to become the tenth largest car maker in the world.

Director of the Thailand Automotive Institute Wanlop Tiasiri expects the country's car production capicity to reach 2.6 million units in 2011.

He revealed that 2010 was a great year for the industry, with a total of 1.65 million cars being manufactured and exports growing as much as 70 percent.

Wanlop said last year's car exports were at around 900,000 units, while domestic sales stood at 800,000 units, including that of imported vehicles.

The director added Thailand has become the world's 12th largest producer of cars. He expects the country to enter the top ten soon, assuming that it could continue to produce 2.5 million vehicles a year.

Regarding the production of eco-cars, Wanlop noted that Nissan produced 90,000 units of its eco-car last year, while Honda is set to start its production in the first quarter of this year. Mitsubishi and Suzuki plan to launch their eco-cars in 2012.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-04

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Skills shortage hampers Phuket MICE market

PSU students will soon have the opportunity to take MICE courses.

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Karenni man frees Thai hostage at UN Mae Sot refugee office

MAE SOT, Jan 4 - A Karenni man on Monday held a Thai man hostage outside the office of the United Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the Thai-Myanmar border town of Mae Sot. The hostage-taker demanded ‘real democracy’ in Myanmar, but later freed the hostage after hour-long negotiations.

The 36-year-old Karenni man, who said he was a soldier of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) carrying a hand grenade in each hand, held 53-year-old motorcycle taxi driver Roj Laowan as hostage Tuesday morning.

Mr Roj said that he was hired by the hostage taker to go to the UN office before his passenger used hand grenades to take him as hostage.

Mae Sot district chief Kittisak Tomornsak and police negotiated with the DKBA soldier, later identified as Saw Tami, for an hour until he agreed to free the Thai hostage and handed in the grenades to the Thai authorities.

The Thai hostage told police that he was hired by his Karenni client to drive him to the UNHCR office but later was held hostage.

Upon surrender, he submitted a complaint letter saying that the DKBA forces will not be submissive to the Myanmar troops and become Border Guard Force (BGF) for the Myanmar government

He said that several ethnic groups did not accept the result of the general election held on Nov 7, 2010 as it was not fair and transparent.

The letter also stated that the Nov 7 election cannot solve the problems in the military-ruled country while urging the UN to help establish true democracy in Myanmar.

It was reported that Saw Tami was initially charged with illegal entry to the Thai kingdom and possession of military weaponry.

The Tuesday hostage incident occurred two months after clashes between the Myanmar armed forces and a splinter faction of the DKBA erupted at the Myanmar border town of Myawaddy just one day after its first election in 20 years, forcing a large number of Karen people fleeing the fighting to cross the border into Thailand. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-01-04

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Only 71 of 400 stolen guns retrieved so far

Only 71 of 400 guns stolen from a military base seven years ago have been retrieved so far, the spokesman of Internal Security Operations Command Region 4's Forward Command said Tuesday.

Col Banphot Poolpian, the spokesman of the forward command, said the authorities have so far retrieved 62 M16 assault rifles and 9 11-mm pistols.

Banphot said the authorities would continue the efforts to retrieve the stolen guns.

-- The Nation 2011-01-04

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Esso, Petronas raise all oil product prices by 30 satang/litre effective today; prices unchanged at PTT, Bangchak /MCOT

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Govt Spokesperson: Royal Thai Survey Dept to Determine if 7 Thais Encroached Cambodian Soil

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UPDATE: New Year road toll rises to 325 after six days

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Suthep saddened by death toll

BANGKOK, 4 January 2011 (NNT) - Deputy Prime Minister said he was saddened by the number of deaths during the New Year, but reiterated that related agencies and organizations had done their best to keep the number down.

In light of reports of the number of road accidents that killed over 300 people and injured nearly 3,500 others during the six-day New year holidays, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban said he was truly saddened by the death toll. He, however, added that all related organization and agencies had done their best working round the clock trying to prevent road carnage from happening.

The government will continue its campaign on safe driving, remind people to be cautious at all times, particularly when they are behind the wheels, Mr. Suthep said.

-- NNT 2011-01-04

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After 7 yrs of deep South insurgency, 4,524 ppl have been killed & 7,320 others injured in 10,498 cases. /via@veen_NT: RT @tulsathit: TR @idongphoto

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The Cabinet approved the appointment of Anchalee Thepabutr as PM secretary general. /via@Urisara_NT

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Anchalee appointed new PM secretary-general

The Cabinet Tuesday appointed Anchalee Theppabutr as the new PM's secretary-general, replacing Korbsak Sabhavasu.

Deputy Government Spokesman Supachai Jaisamut told a press conference that the Cabinet approved Anchalee's appointment as proposed by the Cabinet Secretariat.

-- The Nation 2011-01-04

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Phuket holiday death toll reaches 4

Police keep an eye on vehicles passing through a Phuket checkpoint.

Photo: Gazette file

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AFP: Thai inflation picks up in December

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ASTV: Court rejects bail for all detained red shirt leaders /TAN_Network

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Court Rejects Latest Bail Attempt by Red Shirts

The Criminal Court has rejected the latest attempt at bail by the detained red shirt leaders. The court cited that there was no additional information to change its earlier ruling. Acting Chairperson of the red shirt movement Thida Tavornset had prepared three million baht in bail money for each of the seven red shirt leaders who made another request for bail earlier this morning.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-04

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Bernie Cooper, in memoriam

Two memorial events have been organised for long-time journalist Bernie Cooper.

The Christian Service will be held at Christ Church (Corner of Soi Convent and Sathorn Road) on January 7 at 2.30pm. A brief reception willl be held after the service at The Sukhothai Hotel.

The bathing ceremony will take place today at Wat That Thong, Sala 3 at 4.30pm. A nightly ritual ceremony will be held at 6pm until January 8.

The cremation will be on Sunday January 9.

-- The Nation 2011-01-04

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7 Thais Detained in Cambodia to Stand Trial on Jan 6

News reports indicate that the seven detained Thai nationals arrested for allegedly encroaching on Cambodian soil will stand trial on January 6 at 8 A.M. It is expected that proceedings could take a couple of days before a ruling can be reached as all seven defendants must be tried.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-04

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SET index closed at 1042.41, up 9.65; Bt/USD29.93; GBP46.21; AUD30.09; EUR39.85; CAD30.05; HKD3.85; SGD23.12; JPY36.26

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Tourists get more Phuket beachfront parking

Patong Beach Car Rent Association President Arnut Lowlarng explains to Governor Tri Augkaradacha

and Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Pekad Tantipong the new parking bays.

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Jilted Husband Blamed For Fatal Stabbing Of Wife’s Boyfriend In North Pattaya

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Underage Employees Found In Pattaya Boy Bar By Immigration Police

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Police, Navy and Army conduct major search of Pattaya Remand Prison cell blocks

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topic continues

Thailand Live Wednesday December 5

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